A DEDICATED Solihull volunteer who helps young people gets their businesses off the ground has been handed a Royal award.
Neal Clements was handed the Prince’s Trust’s Volunteer of the Year award, in association with Good Morning Britain, by Prince Charles at a special ceremony at St James’ Palace.
Over the years Neal has supported many people grow their businesses and get into employment after volunteering for more than 50 projects over the past 20 years.
He said: “I am very humbled to have been given the award, there were so many other volunteers who do so much.
“For me the key thing with the awards was watching the young people getting their awards and telling their stories.
“I think Prince Charles summed it up well when he said ‘I have gone from tears to laughter’ during the awards.
“It was such a lovely event to watch what they young people had achieved and the obstacles they had to overcome.”
Last year he stepped up to his biggest challenge yet, as part of a project with the Police and Crime Commissioner’s Office to help reduce youth violence.
He led a young people commissioning panel which distributed over £80,000 to youth led community projects.
He said the projects covered a variety of ideas from events to others were to commission art installations.
The former IT company chief executive said: “Anybody who has worked for an organisation can benefit a young person trying to get on the employment ladder or starting their own business and they will get benefit back.”
